Luxor

Luxor is a city in southern Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. It sits on the east bank of the Nile, several hundred kilometers downstream from Cairo. The modern city developed around the ancient site of Thebes, a major political and religious center in the New Kingdom. The climate is hot and arid, with mild winters and long, sunny summers.

Luxor hosts many of Egypt’s best-known monuments. Across the river on the West Bank lies the Theban Necropolis, where tombs of pharaohs and nobles were constructed in the Valley of the Kings and related sites such as the temple complex at Medinet Habu. On the East Bank are the grand temples of Karnak and Luxor, built and rebuilt over many centuries. Karnak is one of the largest religious complexes in the ancient world, while Luxor Temple marks the later stage of temple building and religious life in Thebes. In 1979 the Theban Necropolis was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis.

Today, Luxor's economy relies largely on tourism and agriculture. The city acts as a gateway for Nile cruises and day trips to the major archaeological sites on both riverbanks. In addition to the temples and tombs, visitors may encounter museums, markets, and riverfront promenades. Luxor is served by Luxor International Airport and a railway network linking it with Cairo and other Egyptian cities, while the Nile remains central to transport and irrigation in the surrounding region.

The name Luxor is also used by a resort hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada; this article concerns the Egyptian city.